The Internet of Things revolution is starting to be felt in the wine industry. On March 28, Boston-based startup Kuvee launches the world's first ever smart wine bottle which keeps the wine fresh for up to 30 days and provides a wine list that could easily rival those available from top restaurants.
Kuvee wine bottles sports a touchscreen which needs to be constantly recharged and only works with compatible wine cartridges. While this might present some sort of hassle for its users, Kuvee promises that it can keep a wine fresh for up to 30 days.
Using the touchscreen allows users to browse and purchase other wines which are available through Kuvee. During its launch, Kuvee has a list comprised of 48 wines from 12 wineries. A handful of these win costs from $15 to $30, although there are a few that costs as high as $50. All the available wines in the list are sold in standard 750ml bottles, according to Engadget.
What many reviewers like about Kuvee's product is that it can instantly turn its user into some sort of a wine connoisseur. On the display screen, users can read about the name of the wine, the year it was produced, the wine maker, its appellation, the composition of the wine and the alcohol content.
According to The Verge, Kuvee Bottle does not employ any sort of fancy systems in order keep the wine inside from spoiling. The bottle does not use argon gas, vacuum sealing or any preservatives. Instead, the magic of the Kuvee Bottle relies on the cartridges to keep the wine as fresh as possible.
The cartridges are made out of a metal described as "oxygen impermeable." The wine is then sealed in a bag inside the cartridge, and the bag collapses as the wine is being poured out. The resulting effect is that only a little amount of oxygen comes in contact with the wine, which supposedly allows it to stay fresh.
Pre-orders of the Kuvee bottle are available at Indiegogo. Unfortunately, the $179 super early bird offer is already sold out. Following its official release, the Kuvee kit will retail for $349. The kit includes the smart bottle, four different wine choices, and a voucher for refills which costs $160.